New research shows promise for reversing baldness

A breakthrough technique that can generate human hair growth shows promise for treating baldness in men and women, a new study suggests.

"If it works in humans, it actually opens up the possibility of hair restoration for many more patients than are currently available," study co-leader Angela Christiano, a dermatology professor at Columbia University Medical Center, told NBC News.

Huseyin Turgut Erkisi | E+ | Getty Images

In the study, Christiano and colleagues took dermal papillae — cells inside the base of human hair follicles — from seven donors and cloned the cells in tissue culture. After a few days, the cells were transplanted onto human skin that had been grafted onto the backs of mice.

The transplants resulted in new hair growth lasting at least six weeks in five of the seven tests, according to the findings. DNA analysis confirmed that the new hair follicles genetically matched the human donors.